China Airlines Set For London Return With A350

Skyteam member China Airlines has announced plans to relaunch nonstop flights between Taipei and London from 1 December 2017, a route which it abandoned in 2012.

Flown using its new Airbus A350 jets that boast improved operating economics, the 13-hour flights will run 4 days a week between Taipei (Taoyuan) and London (Gatwick). Flight CI 069 will depart Taipei at 0930 hrs (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays) / 0855 hrs (Fridays) for a 1530 hrs (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays) / 1455 hrs (Fridays) arrival into London. The return CI 070 service will leave London at 2115 hrs, arriving back in Taipei at 1830 hrs the next day.

China Airlines’ A350s represent an upgrade of the flying product for passengers. In addition to the aircraft’s wider cabin and lower pressurization, its interior has been shaped by local designer Ray Chen along the ‘Modern Oriental’ theme. Each jet is configured in a 3-class layout, with 32 reverse herringbone B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seats in Business Class, 31 Premium Economy Seats arranged 2-3-2 offering a 39-inch seat pitch and 243 Economy Class seats, including a select few that convert into a ‘Family Couch’.

London joins Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome and Vienna as the fifth European destination for the airline. In recent years, these have been served nonstop (as opposed to via Bangkok) from its base in Taipei with the arrival of newer, fuel-efficient aircraft such as the A350 and Boeing 777-300ER.